BOLTON NEWS (UK) 03 November 07 Meet Cuddles - but you won't want to give him one (Amanda Smith)

At 13-foot long and weighing a whopping six stone, Cuddles may look a bit scary.

But the friendly Burmese Python is happy to be petted by visitors at Smithills Open Farm.

The farm's latest arrival came from a rescue centre in North Wales and has settled in well to her new home.

Farm Manager Carl Grimshaw, aged 23, said: "Burmese Pythons are one of the most placid snakes which is why they make great pets.

"But people don't realise how quickly they grow and they soon become too big for the house and are difficult to re-home, so they often end up at zoos or reptile centres."

Cuddles has joined Ziggy, the farm's first Burmese Python who was introduced last year, in its 100 square foot vivarium.

She is considerably larger than the nine-foot male but staff are hoping they will eventually mate - although staff admit Cuddles has shown little interest so far.

The farm's vivarium has to be kept at the right humidity and includes hot and cold areas, a pond and branches from trees to ensure the snakes feel at home.

Burmese Pythons are not poisonous, but they have the strength of a double-decker bus.

The snakes can grow up to 10 feet in their first two years and more than 25ft over their lifetime.

Cuddles, who is 10-years-old, likes to eat rats, which have to be specially ordered in frozen batches from pet shops.

Mr Grimshaw added: "Normally they would eat chicken or pheasants.

"But Cuddles will eat 10 rats in a day, and then she won't need to eat for a month.

"She was very energetic when she first arrived but has calmed down a lot now.

"Cuddles doesn't pose a threat to humans, she is very friendly and loves being touched by warm hands."

Smithills Open Farm opened in 2000 and has been growing in popularity every year.

From January this year to the end of the summer holidays, the farm had welcomed 70,000 visitors.

The farm family is constantly growing. Last week llama Amy, who was bred at the farm, had her first baby which has been named Peaches. A week earlier, donkey Susan gave birth to a foal Blossom.



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• GBR Press: Meet Cuddles - W von Papineäu, Tue Nov 6 08:00:27 2007